Mill Creek’s Party in the Parks program replacing Summer Children’s Concerts

Fun and games at the July 17th Party in the Parks. Image courtesy of the City of Mill Creek.

By Richard Van Winkle, News of Mill Creek.

This summer the new City of Mill Creek recreational program called Party in the Parks is replacing the long-standing Summer Children’s Concerts. Each monthly Party in the Parks will be held in rotation at one of the city’s ten neighborhood parks.

In a report handed out to the city council on July 10, 2018, Mill Creek Director of Communications and Marketing Joni Kirk stated the main reason for the change is that public participation at the Summer Children’s Concerts has declined substantially over the past few years because they were “being held in the middle of day on a weekday.”

Kirk explained that each of three 2018 Party in the Parks events will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on the third Tuesday in each month to allow working parents a chance to attend the events. She also noted that the early finishing time takes into account small children’s bedtime.

City councilmembers will be able to meet and connect with constituents at these events as council meetings are held on the first, second, and fourth Tuesday of each month. A recent city council long-term planning session identified the need for councilmembers to be more active at community events.

A recent city news release said, “These events will provide a fun evening out for the community with fun activities and games while showcasing the City’s beautiful local parks. The Lions Club will be providing food for purchase at each event.”

“The event is designed to help neighbors and residents connect with each other and the City in a block party setting,” said Gordon Brink, Communications and Marketing Coordinator for the City. “We enjoy being able to interact with our residents, and these events will help build a strong community spirit. So bring a picnic and spend a night in community.”

The first Party in the Parks was held on July 17th at Buffalo Park. The next one will be held on August 21st at Heron Park and the last one of the year will be at Cougar Park on September 18th.